Machine for operating upon soles



June 16, 1936. E. E. SABIN MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES Filed Feb. 15, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 16, 1936.' v E. E. SABIN ,1

MACHINE FOR' OPERATING UPON SOLES Filed Feb. 15, 1934 5 Sheets-$heet l2 Wl/E/VTUH June 16, 1936.

E. SABIN MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 15, 1934 f M I M w,

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lllllllllll June 16, 9 E. E. SABIN 2,044,104

' MACHTNE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES Filed Feb. 15, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 //Vi/E/\/ 727 2 June 16, 1936.

E. E. SABIN MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES Filed Feb. 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WI/E/V 70/? Patented June 16, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES Application February 15, 1934, SerialNo. 711,388

22 Claims.

The present invention relates to machines for Operating upon soles, and more particularly to machines employing drag knife cutting instrumentalities for performing such stock fitting operations as channeling, grooving, and beveling or shank reducing. An object of the invention is to provide a machine for such work of the general type in which a knife carrier and sole support are arranged for relative movement to transfer the point of operation about the margin of the sole.

An important field of use for such machines is in connection with the preparation of soles for WomensMcKay shoes, where it is desired to reduce the thickness of the shank by beveling either on the flesh side of the sole or beneath a channel flap lifted from the grain side. The requirements of fine shoemaking insist that these operations be carried out smoothly and accurately both as to shape of bevel and as to longitudinal location of the beveling cut in the, sole.v If the reducing cuts are not begun exactly at the proper points, namely at the break between the forepart and the shank, the sole will buckle at these points during the leveling operation. It is, moreover, important that the reducing cuts terminate exactly at the heel breast line to insure proper seating of the heel. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance definitely and accurately to predetermine the points at which the reducing cuts begin and end, and the machine of the present invention is designed with these exacting requirements inmind and satisfactorily fulfills them.

In onev aspect the present invention consistsin a machine of the type above discussed organized to cut a channel in one surface of the sole, for example the grain surface, to lift thechannel flap and to reduce the material in the shank of the sole beneath the channel flap. A sole channeled in this manner isdesirable in fine shoemaking because it contributesto the production of a smooth, thin, close-edge shank, a characteristicv greatly to be desired. With this object in view, an important feature of the invention consists in a knife carrier having mounted therein a channeling knife and a beveling or shank reducing knife associated with mechanism for accurately and independently controlling theoperative position of both knives during their travel about the marginof the sole. As herein shown, the beveling knife is arranged to be thrown into and out of operation for making a beveled cut of predeterminedlength throughout both sides of the shank of the sole. The channeling knife is similarly arranged; to be rendered operative or inoperative and, as here shown, its. cutting operation is limited to a path. slightly exceeding in length that of the beveling knife.

Other features of the invention relate to the mechanisms for rendering the knives operative or inoperative at the desired predetermined points in their travel about the margin of the sole. As herein shown, thechanneling and grooving knives are mounted so that at all times they tend to move into operative position. The channeling and grooving knives are both provided with lifting levers underlying a depressing plate which maintains operative connection with them in all positions which they may occupy, and means is provided for depressing such plate to predetermined points and throughout predetermined distances of travel about the margin of the sole. Such construction permits the knives to be positioned always at substantially right angles to the direction of relative movement of the knife and sole at all points about its curved contour, while at the same time maintaining operative control.- ling connection with the knives throughout the cycle of the machine.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of one embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and. shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the entire head of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of part of the knife-carrying mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation on a larger scale of the operating instrumentalities of the machine positioned at one end of a. sole;

Fig. 4 is a view in side, elevation, partly in section, showing the operating instrumentalities at the heel end of a sole;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective on a larger scale showing the instrumentalities of the machine in operative position in, the shank of a sole;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective showing the instrumentalities of the machine inoperative position at the toe end of av sole Fig. 7 is a plan View, partly in section, of the work table and mechanism supported thereon;

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective on a smaller scale of a modified machine employing a reducing knife only;

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of the reducing knife mechanism of alternative construction;

Fig. 10 is a view in perspective on a larger scale illustrating a portion of thereducing knife mechanism shown in Fig. 9,; and,

Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of a portion of a sole after it has been operated upon by the instrumentalities of Figs. 8 to 10.

The machine herein shown is of the general type of that disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 911,511, granted February 2, 1909 on an application of Mayo and Buckminster, and only so much of the machine is herein shown as is required for a complete understanding of the present invention. Further details of construction not herein shown are disclosed in said Letters Patent, to which reference may be had.

In the machine illustrated in the drawings, the pattern is stationary and comprises a sole shaped pattern I mounted upon the standards 2 which project upwardly from an adjustable base 3 in a. stationary head. During the operation of the machine, the sole to be operated upon is held in position above the pattern by a clamp 4 which is secured upon the lower ends of standards 5 adjustably secured to a cross bar 6 pivotally mounted upon the lower end of a plunger 1 which is mounted to be moved vertically in the overhanging portion 8 of the machine frame. Treadle mechanism, not shown, is provided for lowering the plunger I to hold the sole clamped in position during the operation of the machine.

The relative movement of the knife carrier and pattern to transfer the point of operation of the knife around the pattern is produced by a table 9 mounted to rotate upon the stationary head which carries the base 3, the axis of rotation passing substantially through the center of the clamped sole. The work table 9 is provided upon its lower face with bevel gear teeth, not shown, by means of which the table is rotated through a driving connection with suitable gearing.

As herein shown, the pattern I carries in fixed position a sheet metal templet or pattern In which is shaped to control the operation of the reducing knife, as will presently appear, and also a sole-holder II which may be formed similarly to the pattern I and is provided at its toe and heel ends with a low curved flange designed to fit the periphery of the sole and firmly hold it in position in cooperation with the overhead clamp 4 for the cutting operations to which it is to be subjected. It will be understood that it is important to hold the sole securely against displacement either by slipping or distortion, as otherwise the accuracy of the cutting operation is impaired. The flanged holder herein shown is one satisfactory manner of holding the sole, engaging it over an appreciable area of contact and at the same time leaving it entirely unobstructed in those portions upon which the cutting operations are to be performed.

The cutting instrumentalities of the machine are supported by a knife carrier arm I2 which is rigidly secured to the rotary table 9 near a point in its circumference and extends circumferentially for a distance above the edge of the table, as best shown in Fig. '7. The outer end of the arm I2 carries a vertical journal I I upon which is pivotally mounted a swing arm or actuating member I3. This arm is provided at its free end with a toothed segment I 5 which is arranged to slide in a horizontally-disposed segmental guideway I6 mounted upon a cylindrical spring housing I'I rigidly secured to the table 9. Within the housing and not herein shown is a pinion meshing with the toothed segment and connected with a torsion spring, tending always to turn it in a direction to move the swing arm I3 inwardly toward the stationary pattern I. The torsion spring is connected to a shaft which extends upwardly through the housing I i, where it is provided with a jointed arm I9 carrying a detent which cooperates with an annular ratchet segment I8. When it is desired to swing the knifecarrying mechanism away from the pattern to permit a sole to be placed thereon, the arm I9 may be turned by the operator and the swing arm I3 moved outwardly against the action of the torsion spring. Then by moving the arm I9 downwardly so as to interlock its detent with one of the teeth of the ratchet segment I8, the swing arm I3 may be temporarily locked in inoperative position. After a sole has been properly clamped in place upon the holder II, the arm I9 is lifted to disengage its detent from the ratchet segment and the torsion spring thereupon moves the arm toward the pattern about Which it revolves. During the rotation of the table It, accordingly, the swing arm I3 is continuously urged inwardly and its position is controlled during the transfer of the point of operation about the sole by gaging mechanism which cooperates with the reducing knife templet I0 and the pattern I, as will be presently described.

An upwardly-extending knife bracket 2|, best shown in Fig. 2, is boiled to the swing arm I3 near its free end. In this bracket is provided a vertical guideway closed at the upper end of the.

bracket by a top plate 22. An elongated slide block 23 is mounted for vertical adjusting movement in the bracket ZI and intra the upper end of this is threaded an adjusting screw 24 which passes through the top plate 22. 23 is provided with a transversely extending lower arm 25 and a corresponding upper arm 26. At the outer ends of these arms are provided vertical bearings in which is swiveled a U-shaped main carrier frame 21 by vertical journal pins 28. The

lower arm of the frame 21 is provided on its upper face with an undercut rib 29 which constitutes a guideway for the shank reducing knife carrier piece 38. An adjusting screw 3| threaded through the frame 2'! is connected with the piece 30 and serves as means for accurately and positively adjusting it toward and from the pattern. Secured to or formed integral with the piece 3!] is a follower 32 having a curved vertical face designed to run against the periphery of the pattern I as the table 9 is rotated and, throughout at least a portion of the cycle, to control the position of the mechanism carried by the swing arm I3, and especiably the channeling and grooving knives.

A knife clamping block 33 is pivotally mounted upon one end of the carrier piece 30, as best shown in Fig. 5, by means of a vertical pivot pin 34. A U-shaped spring 35, (Fig. 3), secured at one end to the frame 21 and at the other to the block 33, tends always to swing the block about the axis of the pivot pin 34 and toward the pattern. When in operative position its movement in this direction is limited, however, by a roller 35 mounted in the block 33 to turn about a vertical axis and located so as to engage the periphery of the reducing knife templet IS. The carrier piece 38 is provided at its inner edge with an upstanding flange which acts as a limit stop for the knife block 33 when the carrier is located in inoperative position.

The block 33 is provided with a transverse groove to receive the reducing knife 31 which is held in position by a clamping plate 38 and a clamping bolt 39. As well shown in Fig. 5, the reducing knife is presented at a beveling angle to The slide block athe sole and .is' effective to :bevel the edge .of the sole in the shank; :Its cutting position may .-.be controlled by adjusting :the carrier :piece .in

and out by means of the adjustingscrew 3| or by raising or lowering the slide block 23 by means of -mechanism outwardly when the desired point adjacent to the ballline of the sole is reached at which it is 'desiredto terminate-the shank :reducing operation. The extreme accuracy and positive manner in which the shank reducing operation is controlled willfbe'apparent from the' foregoing description and it will'also be apparent that during this operation the soleis held rigidly in a flat condition without-'liabilityof distortion or slipping. so that the accuracy of the ftemplet is fully effective in controlling the length and position of the reducing cut in the sole.

The-channeling and grooving mechanism will now be described. A vertical carrier plate 42 is rigidly secured to one side face of the swing frame 2'! by a tongue and groove, notshown, and a clamping bolt 43 (see Fig.3). Near its lower end the carrier plate is provided with a horizontal journal member 44 upon which are pivotally mounted the presser foot and channel knife lever 45 and'the grooving knife lever 60. These levers are of the-same general "shape: and each includes a portion extending upwardly from the journal member 44 and a forwardly-extending knife-carrying portion. The upwardly-extending portion of the lever 45 has a curved .upper edge surface provided with a tonguearranged to slide in a correspondingly curved groove provided in an offset extension 46 of the carrier plate 42. The lever '45 is thus provided with a rigid guide whichiinsures accurate movement and positioningof the lever and of the channel knife carried thereby. The lever 45 is at all times urged downwardly in a clockwise direction, as seenin Fig. 6, by a strong coil spring 4l.lone end of this being secured to apin projecting from the extension 4% of the carrier plate and the other encircling a pin which projects from one side of the lever 45 near its .forward end. Pivotally connected to the .lever'45 is a lifting leverASchaving a downwardly-extending eccentricportion which bears at alltimesiagainst a surface 49 at'the outer edge of the carrier plate 42. When the outer end of the lifting lever 48 is depressed, by its reactance against the cam surface 49, itis effective to rock the lever 45 inv a counter clockwisedirectien against the torsion of the spring l'ljlifting the inner end of thelever 45 upwardly and-carrying the channel. knife 54 mounted therein awayfrom thesole being operated upon.

At its forward end the lever 45 is provided'with a presser foot 59 secured in place by a tongue and slot connection and-a clamping bolt 5|. The surface of the p-resser foot is curved so thatit may travel smoothly upon the surface of the sole and determine the effective height of the channel knife as the operating point is transferred along the margin of the sole. It willbe understood that the normal action of the spring 4'! is to cause the pres-ser foot 50 'to engage the surface of the work with a firm but yielding pressure, except :when the; lever 45 :is positively .lifteid .bymeans: of the .lever 48.

zsecuredto the endrof thelever .45 .is the :chan- ,nel knife block 53 and thisis provided in its :forward .face with 18.18131; dove-tailed guideway in"WhiChTlS adjustably mounted the shank of the :channeliknife 5.4. The channel knifejis clamped in the :block in the .proper position of vertical adjustment by :a clamping :screw 55 (Fig.

4). and :said block .is mounted for transverse adjustment upon a laterally-extending portion of "the lever 45, for this purpose being slotted and provided :with a clamping bolt 52.

The grooving knife lever 16!) is mounted upon the journal member '44 side by side with the lever 45. His supported laterally by a downwardlyprojecting arm 6| which is held .uponithe-frame 2'! by the clampingbolt43, and'is normally urged in .a counter .clockwisedirectiom-as seen in Fig. 3,

It is provided with aby a tension spring 62. lifting lever 63 by which it may be rocked in opposition-to the tension of thespring 62, the lower eccentric portion of the lever bearing upon the carrier plate 42. At its forward end the lever 6% is provided with horizontal dove-tailed 'ways in which'is clamped by a bolt 61 for horizontal adjustment a carrierpiece '64. The grooving knife is adjustably secured to the outer end of the carrier'piece 64 bya clamping bolt 55.

As shown in Fig. 5, theshank'o'f the grooving kn fe is slotted .so that said knife may be adjusted longitudinally to exactly thezproper height in relation to the channel knife. This relation is best shown in Fig. 6, from which it will be seen that the channel knife acts immediately behind'the presser foot 58, and that as the channel is opened and the flap turned upwardly the grooving knife acts to cut a groove along the inner edge of the channel nearth'e base of the channel flap. Moreover, the beveling knife :3? is located with its inner end slightly to the rear of the grooving knife and in position 'to remove a beveled chip from the margin of the Sole in that portion thereof from-which the channel flap hasbeen lifted.

The lifting levers 48 and '63 are positively depressed by the action of a depressing plate is and are held depressed during a certain. predetermined portion of the relative travel of the carrier about the sole.

The depressing plate is rectangular in outline, as shown'in Fig. l, and is supported upon a bracket "H projecting outwardly from the upper arm 26 of the slide block 23, already described. At its outer end the bracket H is provided with a pair of spaced hcri- "the links'with a stop pin 16 projecting from the arm-of the bracket H.

The other or inner link isprovided with an upstanding arm H which is adapted-to be engaged and positively swung in a direction to lower the depressing plate by cam plates 33 and I8! (Fig. 1) located adjacent to the toe and heel ends of the sole support, as will be described.

A bracket I96, in the shape of a slotted bar with a downwardly widened end, is secured to "the'overhanging portion 8 of the machine frame by a clamping bolt 98, being slotted for horizontal adjustment. An angle piece IOI slotted for vertical adjustment is adjustably secured to the outer end of the bracket I00. A semi-circular cam plate I03 is secured to the angle piece IOI through a slotted connection which permits adjustment of the plate horizontally in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sole support. The cam plate I03 is so shaped and located as to engage the upstanding arm 11 of the link 14 and force down the depressing plate 10 while the carrier is passing about the heel end of the sole, thus maintaining the channeling and grooving knives in inoperative position during this portion of the cycle.

A second bracket I04 in the shape of a grooved bar is also adjustably secured to the overhanging portion of the machine frame and extends in an opposite direction from the bracket I00. The bracket I04 carries a vertically adjustable angle piece I05, the position of which may be controlled by an adjusting screw I06. To the angle piece is secured a curved cam plate I01 and this is located adjacent to and above the toe end of the 501s support. Similarly to the cam plate I03, it is arranged to engage the arm I? and to force and hold down the depressing plate 10 while the carrier is passing about the toe end of the sole, so that in this portion of the cycle also the beveling and grooving knives are maintained in their elevated and inoperative position.

The operation of the mechanism hitherto described will be best understood by a description of the action upon a sole 80, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. As already stated, the sole is positively held against transverse displacement by flanges at the toe and heel end of the soleholder II, upon which it is held in position by the clamp 4. As the carrier passes about the heel end of the sole and the arm I! rides out from beneath the cam plate I03, the lifting levers 48 and 63 are released, and the action of the springs 41 and 62 is effective to lower the knife-carrying levers 45 and 60. The presser foot 50 thereupon engages the upper surface of the sole and the channeling knife 54, immediately in the rear thereof, is located so as to make a channeling cut inwardly from the margin of the sole. This forms the channel flap BI, which is turned upwardly and inwardly from the margin of the sole. As the channeling operation progresses, the knife 65 forms the groove in the bottom of the channel, the thread or chip 82 passing up through the grooving knife. The relation of both knives 54 and 65 to the periphery of the sole is controlled by the contact of the follower 32 with the pattern I. During the passage of the carrier about the heel end of the sole, the beveling knife 31 has been held outwardly in an inoperative position by the templet I0. But immediately after the channel knife comes into action, the follower roll 36 reaches a depressed portion in the periphery of the templet, and the beveling knife 3'! is allowed to move inwardly to cut the beveled chip 83 from the margin of the sole in that portion thereof from which the channel flap has been lifted. The action of the channeling, grooving and beveling knives continues throughout the shank portion of the sole and then, at or about the ball line, the templet I0 is effective to retract the beveling knife and the arm I! encounters the cam plate I07 so that the depressing plate 10 is again forced downwardly and the channeling and grooving knives lifted again to their inoperative position. After the carrier has traveled about the toe end of the sole, the knives are again brought into operation in passing along the opposite side of the shank of the shoe, and, finally, they are again rendered inoperative as they approach the heel end of the sole.

It will be understood that as the knife carrier travels about the margin of the sole 80, the swing frame 21 swivels about the axis of the journal pins 28 and, by reason of the yielding pressure of the curved follower 32 against the edge of the pattern support I, the swing frame is maintained in a position substantially normal to the curvature of the sole at the operating point. The whole knife mechanism partakes of this swiveling movement and, consequently, the position of the liftting levers 48 and 63 is widely varied in the carrier. The depressing plate 10, however, is of sufficient area and is so designed as to overlie the ends of the levers in all positions thereof, thus maintaining an operative connection with the knife mechanism throughout the cycle of the machine. The location of the carrier with respect to the sole is so determined that the projected axis of the journal pins, that is to say, the axis of movement of the swing frame 27, passes through the margin of the sole being operated upon. The cutting edges of the channeling, grooving and beveling knives are located in compact arrangement and closely adjacent this axis so that their relationship is not substantially altered by the swiveling movement of the swing frame.

There is shown in Figs. 9 and 10 an alternative shank reducing or beveling knife mechanism which is designed for use particularly for beveling the shanks of soles where no channeling operation is desired or where the reducing operation is to be carried out on the grain side of the sole. An upwardly-extending knife bracket IZI is bolted to the swing arm I3 near its free end. In this bracket is a vertical guideway closed at its upper end by a top plate I22. A slide block I23 is mounted for vertical adjustment in the bracket and into the upper end of this is threaded an adjusting screw I24 which passes through the top plate I22. The slide block I23 is provided with a transversely-extending arm I25 which carries at its outer end a swing frame I26 arranged to swivel about a vertical journal pin I2'I secured in the end of the arm. The swing frame I25 has a U-shaped portion which embraces the end of the arm I25 and an outwardly and upwardlyextending arm carrying a transverse journal pin I28. Upon this journal pin is mounted a forked presser foot arm I29. Secured to the free end of the arm I29 for transverse adjustment is a presser foot I30 held in place by a, clamping bolt I3I. A tension spring I32 tends normally to swing the presser foot arm I29 downwardly to an initial position determined by a stop screw I33 threaded into the arm I29 and bearing against a step formed in the upwardly-extendin arm of the swing frame I26. This presser foot, similarly to the presser foot 50, is arranged to run along on the surface of the sole with a firm yielding pressure just in advance of the cutting point. The swing frame I26 is provided with a curved upstanding follower member I34 designed to run upon the periphery of the sole-supporting pattern I35 and thus to control the in and out p0 I frame 126 by a clamping bolt [39 which passes through a slot in the arm curved "oh a radius of curvature about the point of the knife as center.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the arm 425 and the entire knife mechanism -may be adjusted vertically by turning the screw I24 and that the angle of the knife I36 may be independently adjusted by loosening the clamping bolt 139 and swinging the knife-carrying arm l3'l'. The contour of the sole-supporting pattern 535 is such as to hold the knife mechanism out of operation in passing about the heel 'end and fo-repartof the sole but 'to permit it to advance into operative position in traveling along both sides of the shank of the sole. As shown in Fig. 10, the knife mechanism has advanced about half way along the inside of the shank of the sole 90, removing a beveled chip $4 and leavingthe shank reduced at 92, as shown in Fig. 11. In this instance, the sole 90 is represented as having been channeled at its grain side toform the channel flap 96 and as having been reduced upon its flesh side.

Fig. 8 illustrates the mechanism already described in connection with Figs. 5 to 7 modified to carry out only the shank reducing operation, In this instance the channeling and grooving knife mechanism is removed from the swing frame 27, and a presser foot is provided which is supported upon the swing frame 21 by an outwardlyprojecting arm 86. A beveling or shank reducing knife 31 is mounted in a block 8'! adjustable upon the lower arm of the swing frame 2?. The mechanisms illustrated in Fig. 8 and in Figs. 9 and 10 may be used interchangeably for performing the same shank reducing operation upon the sole and represent alternative mechanisms which are equally effective.

It will be understood that the cam plates Ice and it! are of suflicient area to maintain an operative relation with respect to the arm 77 and its depressing plate throughout any range of variation in sizes of soles likely to be operated upon in the usual routine .of shoemakin'g. Moreover, these cam plates are practically universally adjustable, as already explained, and may be accurately positioned to carry out the function of forcing downwardly the depressing plate at exactly the desired point in the cycle of the machine and to hold it depressed for the desired interval.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for operating on soles, having in combination, a solesupport, a templet associated therewith, a knife carrier, the support and carrier being movable relatively to present the entire periphery of the sole to the knife, and a beveling knife mounted in the carrier to move toward or from a sole on the support and being controlled in its position by the contour of the peripheral edge of the templet throughout the relative movement.

2. A machine for operating on soles, having in combination, a sole support, a flat templet disposed adjacent to a sole on said support with its contour projecting beyond the margin of the sole, a knife carrier, said carrier and the support being relatively movable to carry the point of operation about the sole, a shank reducing knife mounted on the carrier to move toward and from the sole, and a follower arranged to run upon the edge of said templet to control the ln-and-out position of the shank reducing knife.

3. A machine for operating on soles, having in combination, a support for a sole and a knife carrier relatively movable with respect to each other to carry the point of operation about the sole, said carrier including a swing frame having independently movable levers thereon, one arranged to present to the sole a channel knife and presser foot and the other having a grooving knife thereon.

4. A machine for operating on soles, having in combination, a support for a "sole and a knife carrier relatively movable with respect to each other to carry the point of operation about the sole, said carrier having an arm in which is mounted a channel knife arranged to cut and turn a channel nap along the margin of the sole, and a second arm in whichis mounted a beveling knife arranged to remove a bevel chip from the margin of the sole beneath the channel flap as the latter is formed.

5. A machine for operating on soles, having in combination, a support for a sole and a knife carrier relatively movable with respect to each other to carry the point of operation about the sole, 9. channel knife in the carrier, and a beveling knife mounted in the carrier below and in the rear of said channel knife, said beveling knife being arranged to operate upon the surface cut by the channel knife. I

6. A machine for operating on soles, having in combination, a support for a sole and a knife carrier relatively movable with respect to each other to transfer the point of operation around the sole, a channel knife in the carrier arranged to cut and lift a channel flap throughout a predetermined portion of the margin of the sole, a beveling knife, and means for automatically throwing said beveling knife into operation after the channel knife is made operative and out of operation before the channel knife is rendered inoperative.

'7. A machine for operating on soles, having in combination, a support for a sole and a knife carrier relatively movable with respect to each other to transfer the point of operation around the sole, a channel knife, means for automatically rendering the channel knife operative during a predetermined portion of the cycle to cut a channel flap, a beveling knife, and means for automatically rendering the beveling knife operative throughout a path of travel shorter than that of the channel knife and included within it.

8. A machine for operatingon soles, having in combination, a support for a sole and a knife carrier relatively movable with respect to each other to transfer the point of operation around the sole, a channel knife, means for throwing the same into operation for operation at the shank of the sole, a beveling knife, and means for automatically throwing the beveling knife into operation throughout a similar and shorter path of travel.

9. A machine for operating on soles, having in combination, a support for a sole and a knife carrier relatively movable with respect to each other to transfer the point of operation around the sole, a channel knife, yielding means tending always to bring said knife into action, positive means acting to hold the same in inoperative position throughout a portion of its path of travel, a beveling knife, and means for rendering the beveling knife operative only while the channel knife is cutting.

10. A machine for operating on soles, having in combination, a support for a sole and a knife carrier relatively movable with respect to each other to transfer the point of operation around the sole, a channel knife mounted in the carrier and so located as to cut a channel flap in the margin of the sole, a beveling knife movable toward and from operative position beneath the channel flap adjacent to and in the rear of the channel knife, and means for automatically controlling the time of cutting by said beveling knife.

11. A machine for operating on soles, having in combination, a support for a sole and a knife carrier relatively movable with respect to each other to transfer the point of operation around the sole, the carrier being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis which intersects the sole near its margin, a channel knife and beveling knife mounted in the carrier and movable therein to and from operative positions adjacent to the projected axis of the carrier, and means for independently timing the cutting of said knives.

12. In a machine for operating on soles, a sole support, and a knife carrier including a swing frame having a knife movably mounted therein, a lever for controlling the position of said knife, and lever operating means mounted in the carrier and arranged to overlie said lever in all positions of the swing frame.

13. In a machine for operating on soles, a sole support, a knife carrier movable about the margin of a sole on the support and having a swing frame mounted to maintain substantially normal position with respect to the contour of the sole during its travel thereabout, a knife and a lifting lever therefor mounted in the swing frame, and a lever operating plate movable with the carrier and arranged to overlie said lever in all positions of the swing frame.

14. In a machine for operating on soles, a sole support, a knife carrier movable relative thereto to transfer the point of operation about the margin of a sole on said support, knife mechanism including a controlling lever pivotally mounted on the carrier, a movable lever-operating plate also mounted on the carrier, and means for depressing said plate when the knife reaches a predetermined point in its travel about the margin of the sole.

15. In a machine for operating on soles, a sole support, a knife carrier movable about the margin of a sole on the support and having a swing frame in which is movably mounted a stock fitting knife, controlling mechanism for said knife including an operating plate movably mounted in the knife carrier, and stationary cam plates arranged to hold the operating plate in knife-lifting position during predetermined intervals in the machine cycle.

16. In a machine for operating on soles, a sole support, a knife carrier movable about the margin of a sole on the support and having a swing frame in which is movably mounted a stock fitting knife, lifting mechanism controllably related to said knife in all positions of the swing frame,

and a cam plate located at one end of the sup port and arranged to operate said lifting mechanism in whatever position it may occupy as determined by the contour of the sole being operated upon.

17. In a machine for operating on soles, a sole support including a holder and a pattern corresponding substantially in contour to the sole, the holder having toe and heel-engaging flanges arranged positively to prevent displacement of the sole, and a knife carrier having stock fitting instrumentalities of the drag-knife type arranged for relative movement with respect to the sole support to transfer the point of operation about its contour and to be controlled in its position by the contour of the pattern.

18. In a machine for operating on soles, a sole support, a knife carrier relatively movable with respect thereto to transfer the point of operation about the contour of the sole and having movably mounted therein stock fitting knives of the dragknife type, knife-controlling mechanism mounted in the carrier and including a plate controllably related to said mechanism in all positions thereof, and cam plates adjustably mounted independently of the carrier for moving the controlling plate into knife-lifting position while the carrier is passing about the toe and heel ends of the sole.

19. In a machine for operating on soles, a sole support including a pattern, a. knife carrier mounted to be carried about a sole on the support in a path controlled by said pattern, a beveling knife movably mounted in said carrier, a templet for controlling the cutting path of said beveling knife, a channel knife also movably mounted in said carrier, and an adjustable cam for controlling the cutting path of said channel knife.

20. In a machine for operating upon soles, a pattern, an actuating member revoluble about the pattern and having a portion urged yieldably into engagement therewith, and a shank beveling knife mounted upon the member and removed by the pattern from operating relation at predetermined points in the travel of the actuating member.

21. In a machine for operating upon soles, a plurality of patterns, an actuating member revoluble about the patterns and having a portion urged yieldably into engagement with a pattern, and shank beveling and channeling knives controlled by the patterns, the shank beveling knife being removed by its pattern from operating relation at predetermined points in the travel of the actuating member.

22. In a machine for operating upon soles, a

plurality of patterns, an actuating member revoluble about the patterns and having a portion urged yieldably into engagement with a pattern, shank beveling and channeling knives controlled by the patterns, the shank beveling knife being removed by its pattern from operating relation at predetermined points in the travel of the actuating member, and means for removing the channeling knife from the control of its pattern.

ERNEST E. SABIN. 

